One of the most common questions we get asked is: What is website hosting and why do I need it? It’s a fair question, particularly if you’ve not had the experience of having your own website before.
Your website has 3 essential components:
- The files that contain the code, pictures and words
- Hosting
- A domain name
In order for people to be able to view your website, the files need to be stored on a publicly available server at a data centre. The storage of your files in a place where they can be accessed from the public World Wide Web is called hosting. Most web design companies (including us) have affiliations with companies that provide this service and can help you select which one to use.
As you can imagine, there are many companies that offer this service. So, how does the Internet know which data centre your files are stored in? This is where your domain name comes in. It acts as a signpost to the place where your files are stored.
You can have your domain name and hosting supplied by the same company, or with different companies – it will still work. The companies that host your website files have to ensure that their servers are secure and backed up on a regular basis. You’ll find that they charge a yearly fee (often payable monthly) for their hosting services.
If you are running an online shop or are expecting very large amounts of visitors to your website you may need more than the basic hosting package to ensure your website runs smoothly.
At Red Box Web Design our website customers have a range of hosting options available to them or they have the option to arrange hosting themselves with a web hosting company of their choice. Our expert web team are able to advise on the what is the best website hosting for your new website.
Talk to your website designer for advice.